manga artist Kirito

035

【NO.34 Why not ask the guild leader?】

The time it took to discuss the illustration with Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't long. In the middle, Kirito even took out his sketchbook and roughly drew a sketch based on the light novel's content. While it wasn't very good, that was because Kirito hadn't fully grasped the characters' personalities and other aspects. However, being able to draw such a scene after only reading that one passage was already quite impressive.

To draw it better and satisfy Kasumigaoka Utaha, the only way is to go back and study the contents of this light novel. But this is also within Kirito's expectations. This volume of manuscript requires three illustrations. If he finishes studying all the current manuscripts before starting to draw, it will take at least four or five days...

Well, Kirito finally realized how big of a mistake it was to procrastinate and not finish this light novel. Otherwise, he might have been able to finish it when he got home. Don't doubt it, with Kirito's increasingly faster pace, three illustrations really won't take him long.

However, the problem lies in the mood that the illustration needs... Even if you want to depict the sour smell of love, you should at least be clear about whether the sour smell is mild or strong, right?

Otherwise, why not just find any illustrator? Why insist on finding Kirito, who's good at feeding us romantic scenes? Uh, maybe finding a soulful artist would work too?

However, that would not be feeling with the heart, but comprehending with the soul!

"That's all I can tell you for now. You'll have to finish reading the previous chapters to know the rest." Kasumigaoka Utaha took a sip of tea and looked up at Kirito, who was jotting down notes in his sketchbook while listening to her.

"Hey, that's strange, isn't it? Editor Machida already told you that you're here to draw illustrations for the work 'Love Metronome,' but you haven't done any homework beforehand. Are you sure you can really handle it?"

Actually, this can also be translated like this: When you take on an illustration job, you should have done your research on the work, right? But you didn't do anything. Are you sure you came here to draw illustrations?

Okay. Although it's not good to blame everything on procrastination, Kirito really didn't take the illustration work to heart. In Kirito's opinion, helping with the illustrations was just a stepping stone to get Machida's help with the manga.

Of course, now that he's taken on the illustration job, he may not have been very attentive before, but as an artist, Kirito wouldn't allow his work to fail to satisfy the people who need it.

"Don't worry. I definitely won't let you down when it comes to illustration!" Perhaps Kirito isn't very confident in other areas, but when it comes to drawing, Kirito is confident that he can give himself a Super High School Grade rating... well, Soubu High.

"Then I'll look forward to it, Fujiwara-sensei!" Kasumigaoka Utaha said with a smile. But for some reason, Kirito felt there was a barb in her words, or rather, he felt she was referring to Fujiwara the Old Thief.

Tsk, it's just that I killed off a really cute and adorable character, why use the word "old thief" to describe me? Besides, that doujinshi is in the "Honkai" genre, full of yandere characters, it would be strange if no one died!

"Ahem, these are the first two volumes of 'Love Metronome' and the newly completed third volume." Machida Sonoko coughed, then pushed the two books and a stack of manuscripts in front of Kirito. "However, since the manuscript for the third volume was only finished last night,... there might be some problems. Please pay attention while you're looking at it, Fujiwara-sensei. If you could offer any suggestions, that would be even better."

It's a very nice smile, especially with that mature face, but all Kirito knows is that he's having a bad day... Is it really necessary to release the unfinished manuscript?

But thinking about it carefully, that's indeed the case. Otherwise, the time allotted for the novel's illustrations wouldn't have been so generous—a whole week! It turns out that this also included time for Kasumigaoka Utaha, the author, to revise her manuscript… It's just so frustrating! Kasumigaoka Utaha!

This is Kirito's evaluation of her!

"I'll... agree to your request for now!" Kirito nodded. His schedule was about to get even tighter... Uh, is this why most men in this country die from overwork?

“If you feel it’s too difficult, you don’t have to agree. Besides, I think there’s nothing wrong with the original manuscript.” Kasumigaoka Utaha shook her right leg, her tone changing slightly. “What you need to do is draw the illustration to my satisfaction, understand?”

"Yes, yes, I understand!"

To be honest, saying "yes" three times in a row can sound like you're just being perfunctory, even if you genuinely mean it.

Just like now——

"Fujiwara-sensei seems to be in a real predicament." Kasumigaoka Utaha's tone gradually became somewhat sarcastic to Kirito. But thinking about it, it made sense. It's annoying when someone gives you a piece of work you've worked so hard to create, and all you get in return is a perfunctory "Ah, I know, I'll go see it" response!

Actually, Kirito didn't mean anything by it; he just wasn't good at criticizing other people's work. Of course, if there really was a problem, he certainly wouldn't mind speaking up.

Now, the favorability rating has decreased...?

Well, it doesn't matter, it's my duty to draw good illustrations!

“Utaha…” Machida Sonoko reached out and tapped Kasumigaoka Utaha’s forehead, then looked at Kirito with a helpless expression, “I’m sorry, Fujiwara-sensei.”

"It's okay," Kirito smiled slightly. Although verbal attacks seem powerful, they are actually no match for a single elbow strike from Suguha. "Try to talk me into the hospital."

"The illustrations are settled for now. Now let's talk about the things I want to ask Editor Machida."

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't hear Kirito refute her words and felt a little bored, but when Kirito spoke again, she unconsciously pricked up her ears.

"For example?" Machida Sonoko raised her eyebrows slightly.

"For example, Machida, how much do you know about the current manga industry?" Kirito's expression became much more serious, clearly showing that he cared a lot.

"Oh~ Fujiwara-sensei isn't drawing R-18 works anymore, so she's planning to retire from the mainstream," Kasumigaoka Utaha interjected. "And she even disappeared for two years because of it, so she was preparing to enter the manga industry?"

"...You could say that." Having played games for two years without neglecting his drawing skills, in a way, it could be considered that he was preparing to... take a two-year break before returning.

"Hey, Fujiwara-sensei, why don't you go ask Akane?"

"……what?"

"Your club leader!"

036

[NO.35 About the Past]

First of all, the clubs I'm talking about here are not the kind of clubs in schools that are just for killing time!

Let me explain briefly.

Kirito was only eleven years old when he first encountered manga, creating his first erotic manga. While others might see him as a genius, he was actually a cheater. Imagine you acquire a special set of memories—memories that are both yours and not yours. You feel unfamiliar with what you see and hear within those memories. In a sense, it might be a story, and within this larger story lie many smaller stories.

So, what would you do?

All Kirito did was hold his paintbrush and draw those stories. Although these stories were a bit strange, it was indeed a way to relieve stress and inner panic. In addition, not to mention that the memories gave Kirito more than just 'stories'; they also provided him with the foundation for being a member of society.

Based on the same point, Kirito made an attempt. The differences brought about by different era backgrounds are also very large. Although Kirito's skills were relatively poor at that time, sometimes the story is far more attractive than the picture quality. When you can meet the standards in both aspects, then in the eyes of others you may be a genius.

There's a saying that gold always shines!

So, Kirito, the eccentric kid selling original works at a doujinshi convention, was approached by a woman named Akane Akasaka. She was the founder and first representative of the super popular doujinshi circle, rouge en rouge.

It is said that at that time she not only continued to create, but also searched for talented people in the public and recruited them one by one. She also spared no effort to explore the industry, identify capable companies, and sometimes she would win them over, while other times she would directly poach their talents.

She sounds like an unlikable person, and she's also a scheming one, but Kirito can actually get along with her when it comes to manga. She doesn't look down on Kirito because he's younger than her, even though she did initially have the idea of ​​tricking even a kid.

However, although Kirito was young, his experience was actually no less than hers, even if it came from other people's experience. Later, based on Akane Kousaka's sincere efforts to win him over, Kirito agreed after a little consideration.

Every industry has its intricacies. After all, whether a comic is accepted or not doesn't always depend on the quality of the work. Artists are essentially employees of the publishing house, and at the beginning, they mostly have to accept the publisher's arrangements or work as assistants to other comic artists... Not to mention that Kirito was just a kid back then, and gaining other people's trust was no easy task.

Of course, Kirito could try submitting his work to some newcomer award or something, and maybe he could actually debut as a genius manga artist. But if that happens... he might be bound to manga in the future.

Kirito joined the rouge en rouge club out of interest, occasionally producing erotic works and helping Akane Kousaka with technical issues. This continued until Kirito met Asuna Yuuki, and then... then the cheater of the generation was eliminated.

In name, Kirito is considered a veteran of this club, but in reality, he doesn't have much contact with Akane Kousaka. So much so that when Kirito really wanted to enter the manga industry, he didn't even consider contacting Akane Kousaka. Perhaps, subconsciously, Kirito didn't really like the atmosphere of this club... maybe?

Incidentally, the Akane mentioned by the editor Machida refers to Akane Kousaka's real name, Akane Kousaka.

She is now very famous in the industry, although not many people know her real name.

"Speaking of which, I almost forgot, she's also a manga artist." Kirito smiled, though sometimes, based on his memory, he would still think of himself as a certain black-clad swordsman.

"Did you forget about your boss because you've been lurking for so long, Fujiwara-sensei? If Akane knew, she'd probably be very disappointed. When you wanted to enter the manga industry, the members of your own club didn't think of starting from your own club first." Machida Sonoko looked at Kirito with a strange expression.

"To be honest, I only found you because of Xiaoqian's introduction."

"There's such a thing?" Kirito raised an eyebrow slightly, feigning surprise. Did the leader think I still had any use?

Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but in terms of her habits, there isn't actually that much difference.

“Actually, Akane still cares about the club members, otherwise I wouldn’t have contacted you a few days after you came back to life.” Machida Sonoko glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha, who seemed sleepy and had slumped over the table again, and resisted the urge to knock on her. “Besides, Akane also mentioned to me that if you encounter any difficulties, you should go back to her.”

"...May I ask, Editor Machida, what is your relationship with the leader?" It's really rare; Kirito has hardly ever seen anyone speak well of Akane Kousaka.

“A college classmate.” Machida Sonoko’s eyes showed a hint of nostalgia. “Let me tell you, Akane didn’t have such a strong ambition for her career back then. She thought that as long as she could get along well with friends who shared the same interests, that would be enough…”

"I see!" Kirito nodded. So the leader is almost thirty. It's hard to believe. Now, not only do Shizuka-sensei and Machida-sensei have things in common, but even if you include the leader of the Kosaka group, they'll probably have something in common... Speaking of which, if they all know each other, will they form a Saintess Alliance in the future?

"Hey, watch your eyes! They're practically radiating malice!" Machida Sonoko glared at Kirito, practically ready to slam her fist on the table. But in a way, these kinds of people who could form an alliance are really sensitive; they can sense even the slightest thought.

"Ahem, I'm so sorry!" Kirito pretended to be embarrassed, then smiled and said, "If I have time another day, I'll introduce you to someone. Hmm, you two will definitely have something in common."

Thank me! I'll play matchmaker for you, and I might even help you find a man later on, so you can try dating lilies blooming under Brokeback Mountain.

"I don't want this kind of introduction!" Machida Sonoko seemed to understand what Kirito meant, and her tone immediately exploded.

"Hehe..." Looking at the frustrated expression on the older single woman's face, it was actually quite amusing. But it's a good thing this person is Machida Sonoko; if it were Shizuka-sensei, Kirito would probably be lying on the ground by now. Uh, if it were Akane Kousaka, she would probably just laugh, but no one knows what dark plans are hidden beneath that smile.

"Well then, that's all for today."

037

【NO.36 Me and Me】

The negotiations ended close to one o'clock.

As Kirito was about to leave with the two light novels and a stack of manuscripts, Machida Sonoko inexplicably asked him once more if he wanted to come to Shinazugawa Bunko to write a novel, especially with the expectation revealed in her eyes...

Hey, I'm a veteran in the club founded by your college classmate. Are you planning to openly poach me now?

It's actually quite strange, in addition to light novels, Shinazugawa Bunko also has a weekly manga magazine. However, Machida Sonoko not only didn't intend to poach any manga artists, but also pushed Kirito back outright. Yet, she inexplicably asked Kirito if he wanted to write a novel... Does she think so highly of me?

Honestly, Kirito could express the stories in his mind through words or pictures, but he personally prefers manga, and besides, there are some aspects that manga simply can't capture. Of course, manga can't always compare to light novels; they just have their own unique characteristics.

However, Kirito really didn't have any thoughts about writing novels—thinking about it, there were already several novelists around him: Asuna, Hachiman, and Kasumigaoka Utaha. There were three in a not-so-big circle. Hmm, he should just stick to drawing manga.

When Kirito refused, Machida Sonoko seemed a little disappointed... Uh, did the leader of the Red Saka group say something to her?

Slightly concerned, but since it was getting late, Kirito decided not to linger. He said goodbye and left, having promised to go for a walk with Suguha that afternoon, though he didn't know which way to go.

While taking the train home, Kirito took out a work by Kasumigaoka Utaha. Although Kirito hadn't read the work, Asuna had spoiled quite a bit about it. However, that was all for the first volume. When the second volume was published, the plot seemed to have encountered many problems, and Asuna's work happened to be coming to an end at that time, so there wasn't much time to read the novel... Thus, Kirito was not spoiled again.

"Hmm, it seems pretty good..." Kirito would occasionally smile as he flipped through the pages, and sometimes he would take out his notebook to doodle.

Time passed quickly, and when the train arrived at the station, Kirito closed the book and stretched lazily. "Phew! The first volume's development was pretty good, but what happened to the second volume that almost died out?"

It's a little strange, but we'll have to wait until Kirito finishes reading the second volume to find out.

After putting everything back in his bag, Kirito walked out of the train station. Perhaps because it was Saturday, there weren't many people at the station, and on his way home, he saw many young men and women walking together...

"Ah, this is youth..." Kirito suddenly sighed as he looked at the sky, which had cleared up from the clouds.

Just then, Kirito heard his sister calling him.

"Brother, this way."

Looking in the direction of the sound, you can see Zhiye, dressed in sportswear and wearing a baseball cap, looking energetic and carrying a backpack, waving in this direction.

"Why didn't you wait for me at home?" Kirito rubbed his forehead and walked over quickly. The weather in the afternoon was different from the morning; the sun was scorching hot. He wondered how long Suguha had been waiting here.

However, to be fair, their current equipment is a really good match.

"Ah, I wanted to eat ice cream, so I came out," the girl said with a smile. "I figured you'd be back around this time, so I brought all my things with me."

"Hey, want some?" Suguha handed over the ice cream.

"No need, you eat." With a helpless expression, Kirito reached out and ruffled Suguha's hair. "...You're out now, why didn't you call me to let me know?"

"I was planning to finish eating first." Suguha looked a little dissatisfied with her slightly puffed-out cheeks. Kirito casually poked her cheeks, and they immediately sank in like balloons with a 'glug' sound.

"Seriously... let's go, I'm hungry." Suguha slapped Kirito's hand away, rolled her eyes, and turned to leave first.

"This child..."

The two walked side by side. Suguha seemed very happy, with the corners of her mouth always turned up. She would occasionally ask about what happened when she went out that morning. Kirito didn't hide anything and told Suguha a general account of what happened at the Shinazugawa Bunko.

"So, brother, your manga career still hasn't taken off?" As she spoke, Suguha casually tilted her head to observe Kirito's expression. Since childhood, her brother had been very capable in every aspect, and his temperament was much more mature than that of an average adult. However, it seemed that it was too incongruous for such a composed demeanor to appear on a child. Later, her brother changed a lot and began to look more like an average high school student... Well, he still does now.

It's strange! Sometimes, even when my brother is right next to me, I inexplicably feel that he's very far away, like we're from two different worlds... Of course, I don't feel that way anymore.

To be honest, Kirito's talents as a child weren't limited to kendo and manga; they extended to many other areas as well. But that's normal, isn't it? For example, if you possess information in your mind that's half an era ahead of this world, even if you don't want it to, it will inevitably show itself sometimes.

But others see him as a genius!

"Well, you can't say that, since I'm just planning to go back to my old employer's job." Although he was certain that he would get the manga submission sorted out today, it hadn't happened yet. But Kirito wasn't embarrassed, since the day wasn't over yet, and... Akane Kousaka, she should know by now.

"This matter will be settled today, so go and have some fun now, otherwise you won't have this much free time later."

"So busy?" Even if she wanted to get involved with otaku culture, it was still too early, and Suguha was still not very clear about this kind of thing.

"It's just an exaggeration... I'm actually quite fast at drawing. If I'm serious, even drawing one chapter a day is considered slow."

Because the images from this story often flash through my mind, I'd like to share this story a little...

Looking up at the azure sky, Kirito's lips curled into a slight smile.

Hey, Black Swordsman, do you like what I'm doing?

Well, I looked back these past couple of days and found that some details need to be modified... well, nothing that's really in the way.

038

【NO.37 Are you sure there are no problems?】

The world is a dangerous place!

The above is a sentence that Kirito has kept in mind since childhood. Whether you suddenly step on a banana peel on the street and fall flat on your face, or your money gets swallowed by a vending machine when you buy a drink, you will feel that the world is getting darker and darker.

"Brother, what are you thinking about? It's just that the sun's out, why are you making such a terrible face?" Holding another ice cream cone, Suguha rolled her eyes at the half-dead Kirito. "Or maybe, brother, you didn't actually want to come out with me... Hmm, should we go back?"

"Leaf, you have no idea how many people can be killed in 34-degree weather, let alone a nocturnal creature like me." Kirito reached out and took the baseball cap from Leafa's head and put it on himself. He really didn't want to talk anymore. When he went out in the morning, the sky was gloomy. Although it looked like it might rain, this kind of weather was the most suitable for a shut-in to go out.